Four-star cornerback John Fulton has established himself as one of the nation's elite defensive backs with his phenomenal performance at Manning High School over the past two seasons. When Fulton was blown away on his official visit to home state South Carolina last week, many felt that Fulton was the Gamecocks' to lose. But after a lengthy phone conversation with Alabama's Nick Saban this week, the Crimson Tide have re-emerged as serious contenders.

"I talked to Coach Saban and Coach [Burton] Burns for a long time and it was really a great conversation," said Fulton. "I talked to them about how they've been playing and how impressed I've been and they talked to me about my season and how I've been playing. Then they talked to my mom for a really long time as well. They've really made an effort to form a good relationship with my mom and that's really important to me."

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound prospect said that while South Carolina's proximity to home is a major plus, the recent success and current strength of Alabama's program has pulled the Tide even with the Gamecocks.

"I've been more impressed with Alabama than any other school I've seen. It's a top notch program that has everything you could ask for from facilities to coaches to a great education. South Carolina being close to home is a really the thing that keeps them even with Alabama right now."

"I'm taking my official visit on October 17th for the game against South Carolina. It's a chance for me to see both teams in action and also to get a little more comfortable with Alabama's campus and see what it would be like to be a student and a player there. I'm really looking forward to it."

Fulton, the nation's No. 4 cornerback and No. 61 overall prospect, is planning to make his final decision later this fall.

"Right now I'm planning to make my decision sometime in November. I feel like by then I will have seen both campuses and learned enough about both programs to really know for sure which place is right for me. I feel good about both places right now so the good news is that no matter which one I choose I feel like I'll have a great college experience."